The New York Knicks get a huge break ahead of Wednesday night’s meeting with the Denver Nuggets. 2X MVP Nikola Jokic, who is averaging nearly a triple-double this season (20.8/9.5/8.9) entered into health and safety protocols Tuesday night and could be out as long as 10 days. Despite Denver missing one of the best players in the NBA, they are still around a -3.5 favorite in this Knicks vs Nuggets matchup as New York plays on the back-to-back.
Before Betting on Knicks vs Nuggets
The Knicks have started off 7-7 on the season, and what’s been instantly noticeable is an uncharacteristically bad defense for a Tom Thibodeau coached team. New York ranks in the bottom 10 in defensive efficiency and they recently gave up 145 points in a home loss to the Thunder on Sunday.
The Knicks did have a nice defensive bounce back in a 118-111 win over the Jazz on Tuesday night – a Utah team in a surprising third place spot in the Western Conference. The Knicks have now alternated wins and losses for the last eight games though – a trend that would have them due for a loss Wednesday night in Denver.
This would normally be a nice spot for Denver, getting the Knicks on the second leg of the back to back with R.J. Barrett logging 37 minutes in Utah while Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle both played 31+. What’s unfortunate for the Nuggets though is that Jokic is not the only player under the weather, as PG Bones Hyland hasn’t played since November 9th and Aaron Gordon is questionable with a non-Covid illness.
New York vs Denver NBA Offshore Betting Odds
| Offshore Sportsbook | Moneyline | Total | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetOnline | Knicks (2.45) | Nuggets (1.6) | 226 | Knicks +3.5 (1.9) | Nuggets -3.5 (1.9) |
| Bovada | Knicks (2.40) | Nuggets (1.6) | 226.5 | Knicks +3.5 (1.9) | Nuggets -3.5 (1.9) |
| BetUS | Knicks (2.45) | Nuggets (1.61) | 225.5 | Knicks +3.5 (1.9) | Nuggets -3.5 (1.9) |
| SportsBetting.ag | Knicks (2.45) | Nuggets (1.6) | 226 | Knicks +3.5 (1.9) | Nuggets -3.5 (1.9) |
| Pinnacle | Knicks (2.45) | Nuggets (1.61) | 226 | Knicks +3.5 (1.99) | Nuggets -3.5 (1.90) |
| MyBookie | Knicks (2.45) | Nuggets (1.6) | 226 | Knicks +3.5 (1.9) | Nuggets -3.5 (1.9) |
Knicks vs Nuggets Prediction & Pick
The Nuggets are 11-17 all-time when Jokic doesn’t play, which isn’t as bad as you’d expect but also still not enough to give the -3.5 points. The Knicks did lose by 15 in their only other back-to-back of the year against Boston, but New York should be able to get this one with the Nuggets lacking some key depth in Gordon and Hyland.
Pick: Knicks +3.5
